First: What This Notice Is (and Isn’t)

This is:

• An inspection notice

• A set of enforceable requirements

• Written for broad application across many property types

This is not:

• A customized plan for your yard

• A clear explanation of how fire actually spreads in neighborhoods

• A distinction between different types of vegetation

That’s where confusion begins.

What Does “Brush” Actually Mean?

One of the biggest sources of confusion in the mailer is the word “brush.”

It’s used throughout—but never clearly defined.

What “brush” is generally meant to describe

“Brush” refers to vegetation in unmanaged or wildland conditions, including:

• Dense, continuous vegetation

• Native plant communities like chaparral

• Non-native, weedy, or invasive growth

• Vegetation that is:

  • not irrigated

  • not regularly maintained

  • accumulating dead material over time

Where you might find it

• Hillsides and open space

• Edges of wildlands

• Undeveloped parcels

• Hard-to-access areas of residential yards

  What “brush” is NOT

• Irrigated landscaping

• Maintained shrubs

• Garden plantings

• Foundation plantings

• Designed native landscapes

Why this matters

The mailer often treats all vegetation as if it behaves the same.

It doesn’t.

A better way to think about it

Instead of asking:

“Is this vegetation allowed?”

Ask:

“Is this vegetation dry, unmanaged, and capable of carrying fire?”

1. Grass and “Native Brush”

What the notice says:

• Cut grass to 3 inches

• Reduce “native brush” to 3 inches

• Shrubs can remain only if spaced 18 feet apart and trimmed up

What to do:

✔ Cut dry grass
✔ Remove dry, unmanaged brush

Where people get into trouble:

The notice does not distinguish between:

• unmanaged brush

• irrigated landscape plants

Practical guidance:

• Focus on dry, continuous fuel

• Be cautious applying the 18-foot spacing rule to maintained landscapes

• Don’t assume all shrubs need to be removed

2. Tree and Shrub Trimming

What the notice says:

• Remove lower branches

• Remove all dead material

What to do:

✔ Remove dead branches and vegetation
✔ Maintain clearance where branches contact structures

Where people get into trouble:

• Over-pruning

• Removing too much canopy

• Stripping trees unnecessarily

Practical guidance:

• Remove dead material first

• Avoid aggressive pruning unless necessary

• Maintain healthy tree structure

3. Chimney Clearance

What the notice says:

• Keep branches at least 10 feet from chimneys

What to do:

✔ Maintain that clearance

This one is straightforward:

• Prevents ignition from sparks or embers

4. Roofs, Gutters, and Debris

What the notice says:

• Remove leaves, needles, and debris

• Maintain clearance from overhanging vegetation

What to do:

✔ Keep roofs and gutters clean

Why this matters:

Dry debris is one of the easiest things to ignite.

5. The 200-Foot Rule

What the notice says:

• Vegetation management extends up to 200 feet from structures

What to understand:

This does not mean everything within 200 feet is equally hazardous.

Practical guidance:

• Prioritize areas closest to your home

• Focus on dead material and direct ignition risks

• Avoid unnecessary large-scale clearing

The Most Important Takeaway

The notice focuses heavily on vegetation.

But in the fires we actually experience in Los Angeles:

Once fire enters a neighborhood, it often spreads from structure to structure.

Not all vegetation is the primary driver of loss.

The 3 Biggest Misunderstandings

1. “All vegetation is dangerous”

It’s not.

• Dead, dry material → high risk

• Irrigated, maintained plants → very different behavior

2. “The 18-foot spacing rule applies to my yard”

It often doesn’t.

That rule comes from wildland conditions, not typical residential landscapes.

Applying it literally can lead to unnecessary clearing.

3. “More clearing = more safety”

Not always.

Over-clearing can:

• remove shade

• dry out the landscape

• increase heat and wind exposure